book reviews. Life lessons. works in progress.

I’ve found myself repeating this mantra several times already this month. Whether it’s a long run on a hot Sunday morning or savoring the last few chapters of a good book – I need the reminder. Even worse is the constant countdown happening in my head — if I can just make it to Labor Day weekend, I’ll be able to breathe again. For anyone working in education, August can be a busy scramble of a month. For those of you not in education — you know when your busy season is and the mental and physical toll it can take on your body.

Slow. Down.

On one hand, I live for the busy times; I cannot sit idly by and have no capacity for boredom. Only boring people are bored. And yet, I find myself racing to the finish line to get the 4 mile run over with or to speed through the Welcome Week schedule on campus. As usual, the Universe weighed in on this as well, playing You’re Gonna Miss Thisand It Won’t Be Like This For Longduring one of these runs. For those of you not familiar with the country hits, they include lyrics like:

You’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast
These Are Some Good Times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this

and

Yeah this phase is gonna fly by
He’s try’n to hold on
It wont be like this for long
It wont be like this for long

I’m trying to remember these words as I head into this busy season. On one hand I’m stopping to savor the last few moments of summer I can squeeze in – and on the other – I’m reminding myself of the joy that this planning and stress brings to others, and to me when I’m finally in the moment. Perhaps Ferris Bueller says it best…

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

I love this. And Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was on TV this weekend and that quote totally struck a chord. No longer working on a campus, I miss the Augusts that I couldn’t wait to end. You are spot on to take it all in :).